Borosilicate

Borosilicate glass contains roughly 5% boron trioxide, making it far more heat-resistant than standard glass. Borosilicate glass was first developed and trademarked as Pyrex in 1915. The boron oxide additive greatly improves thermal shock resistance.

This property revolutionized the creation of glass smoking devices, enabling the birth of the first borosilicate glass water pipes and bongs in the 1970s. Before this, pipes were made of unsafe materials like metal or cardboard. Borosilicate allowed beautiful hand blown glass artistry to finally merge with unparalleled function.

The high heat tolerance combined with optical transparency makes borosilicate glass the ideal material for intricately crafted bongs, dab rigs, and pipes designed for smoking hot cannabis vapor. While used for laboratory glassware as well, borosilicate finds one of its highest art forms in glass cannabis devices.